Six Democratic candidates seeking to face Gov. Tom Corbett in this year's general election made their way around Lehigh University's Iacocca Hall during a forum where they fielded questions from voters.

Those in attendance were Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski; Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz; York County businessman Tom Wolf; Cumberland County pastor Max Myers; and Katie McGinty and John Hanger,
who each served as secretary of the Department of Environmental
Protection during different portions of Gov. Ed Rendell's
administration.

The candidates discussed their stances on six topics: reproductive
rights, labor, senior citizens' issues, education, environment and
equality. Each candidate spent time at a table set up for each topic and then rotated around the room to the next table. Eager voters surrounded each candidate asking questions.

At the labor table, Hanger told voters that he's in favor of raising the minimum wage to $10.10 and said more workers should try to join unions. Workers deserve a wage or salary that will support a family, he said.

"Workers have to organize ... and you'll need a governor that will stand behind them," he said.

Myers fielded questions regarding equality for about 20 minutes. He said he was appalled that there are no equal rights or access laws in the state.

Myers said he is "totally supportive of the LGBT community" but he would not take a hard stance on the issue publicly. Instead, he said he would show people who disagree that there is a reason for marriage equality and encourage both sides to honor and respect one another.

Wolf wants to restore education funding so furloughed teachers won't flee the state in search of jobs. He also wanted to reaffirm why the public pays for education, he said. Wolf's happy to fund education and said it builds stronger communities.

"We all share the responsibility and we all benefit from it," he said.

Outside of the hall, a group against fracking promoted a statewide moratorium on gas drilling.

An employee of the industry said drillers are violating the law and paying fines instead of complying. Litz admitted that she's against a full-on moratorium on fracking, but she'd pull the violators' licenses and "make the rest fall in line."

At the end of the forum, Pawlowski said the state faces tough challenges such as failing roads and bridges,
improving public education, and job growth.

He touted his experience turning multimillion-dollar deficits into surpluses,
fixing the pension problem so many other municipalities are struggling with,
preventing tax hikes and lowering crime.

"We don't have to accept the status quo," he said. "We didn't in
Allentown."

McGinty said she was "thrilled to be a part of the forum," which she joked was similar to "speed
dating." She said she wants to help the working class because many are
struggling to provide health care and put food on the table for their
families.